Modi Targets Congress Over Karnataka Leadership Change, Hails India's Economic Growth

By Mahima Katal Surat/Daman, June 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday criticised the Congress party over the recent change of leadership in Karnataka, claiming that "immense public anger" had forced the party to replace Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with D.K. Shivakumar.

Addressing separate events in Gujarat and the Union Territory of Daman, Modi accused Congress of fostering "chaos and uncertainty" over the past 12 years while seeking political gains from instability.

"There is immense public anger regarding the Congress government in Karnataka; that is precisely why the party had to replace its Chief Minister there," Modi said, referring to Shivakumar's appointment as chief minister on June 3.

The Prime Minister contrasted the opposition's record with what he described as the BJP-led government's focus on development, infrastructure and economic growth. He argued that repeated electoral victories for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reflected public confidence in the government's policies.

Modi cited recent election results in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, as well as local body polls in several states, as evidence that voters had rejected what he called Congress's "politics of uncertainty."

The remarks came during a visit to Gujarat, where Modi inaugurated and laid foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹18,000 crore.

The Prime Minister also welcomed India's latest economic growth figures, describing them as proof of the country's resilience amid global challenges. Official data released on Friday showed India's economy grew by 7.7 per cent in the 2025-26 fiscal year, while growth in the January-March quarter stood at 7.8 per cent.

"The figures released today demonstrate how strong the foundations of India's economy are," Modi said during an event in Daman.

He argued that India had successfully navigated a decade marked by global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflicts and energy market volatility. According to Modi, investments in infrastructure, welfare programmes and economic reforms have helped India remain one of the fastest-growing major economies.

The Prime Minister also defended his government's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-Reliant India) initiative, saying recent global energy disruptions underscored the importance of reducing dependence on foreign supplies.

"Countries that remain dependent on others cannot reach their full development potential," he said, while highlighting India's investments in renewable energy, railway electrification, ethanol blending and nuclear power.

Modi further emphasised India's commitment to green growth and clean energy, noting the country's expansion of solar power generation and broader sustainability efforts.

During his visit to Daman, Modi launched projects worth nearly ₹2,970 crore across sectors including healthcare, aviation, tourism and infrastructure. The projects included a new airport terminal, a hospital, an iconic bridge and a campus of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Larsen & Toubro's manufacturing facility at Hazira in Gujarat's Surat district, where he reviewed industrial and defence production activities, including the indigenous Zorawar light tank programme.